as in detectives
a person not on the police force who investigates criminal or illicit activity or searches for missing persons
the popular TV sleuth lives a much more action-packed life than do his real-world counterparts
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Recent Examples of sleuths
Last summer, for example, internet sleuths on Google discovered private ChatGPT conversations that had been indexed on a public website without the users realizing it.
—
ABC News, 15 Apr. 2026
Horrified by the secrets revealed by Bateman, Christine Marie and Katas were emboldened to go undercover as amateur sleuths.
—Liam Quinn, PEOPLE, 9 Apr. 2026
But as sleuths have noted, there is publishing precedent for a Communion with a colon attached.
—Brittany Allen, Literary Hub, 3 Apr. 2026
But eagle-eyed social media sleuths have pointed out one possible problem - the picturesque place of worship nestled in the green hills of Virginia featured on the cover appears to show a United Methodist church, not a Catholic one.
—Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA Today, 2 Apr. 2026
That wasn’t the only item of note internet sleuths found.
—Frank Landymore, Futurism, 1 Apr. 2026
For decades, the Zeigler case has fascinated the public around the world, leading to television shows, books, documentaries and a variety of crime sleuths creating various conspiracy theories.
—Martin E. Comas, The Orlando Sentinel, 27 Mar. 2026
Amateur sleuths who tried to help solve the shocking case stirred up rumors online — many of which remained active and have only grown in the time since the college student homicides.
—Kevin Fixler, Idaho Statesman, 24 Mar. 2026
That name is so common in England that searching for it would leave sleuths acting on a tip chasing endless possibilities.
—Brian Niemietz, New York Daily News, 17 Mar. 2026
ABC News, 15 Apr. 2026
Horrified by the secrets revealed by Bateman, Christine Marie and Katas were emboldened to go undercover as amateur sleuths.
—Liam Quinn, PEOPLE, 9 Apr. 2026
But as sleuths have noted, there is publishing precedent for a Communion with a colon attached.
—Brittany Allen, Literary Hub, 3 Apr. 2026
But eagle-eyed social media sleuths have pointed out one possible problem - the picturesque place of worship nestled in the green hills of Virginia featured on the cover appears to show a United Methodist church, not a Catholic one.
—Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA Today, 2 Apr. 2026
That wasn’t the only item of note internet sleuths found.
—Frank Landymore, Futurism, 1 Apr. 2026
For decades, the Zeigler case has fascinated the public around the world, leading to television shows, books, documentaries and a variety of crime sleuths creating various conspiracy theories.
—Martin E. Comas, The Orlando Sentinel, 27 Mar. 2026
Amateur sleuths who tried to help solve the shocking case stirred up rumors online — many of which remained active and have only grown in the time since the college student homicides.
—Kevin Fixler, Idaho Statesman, 24 Mar. 2026
That name is so common in England that searching for it would leave sleuths acting on a tip chasing endless possibilities.
—Brian Niemietz, New York Daily News, 17 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sleuths
Noun
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Wentworth Area detectives were investigating.—
Tess Kenny,
Chicago Tribune,
16 Apr. 2026
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The pair of Brooklyn North narcotics detectives involved in the clash thought the man matched the description of someone who had just made a drug sale, a police source said.—
Colin Mixson,
New York Daily News,
16 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Surveillance cameras and license plate readers are commonly used by investigators and have rarely been challenged.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
19 Apr. 2026
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The suspect accused of leading troopers on a police chase through Buckhead before crashing at one of the area's busiest intersections has now been identified, according to an update from investigators.—
Zachary Bynum,
CBS News,
13 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Sleuths.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sleuths. Accessed 20 Apr. 2026.
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